Conditional gp130 deficient mouse mutants.

The common cytokine receptor chain, gp130, controls the activity of a group of cytokines, namely, IL-6, IL-11, IL-27, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), oncostatin M (OSM), cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), cardiotrophin-like cytokine (CLC) and neuropoietin (NPN). This family of cytokines is involved in multiple different biological processes, including inflammation, acute phase response, immune responses and cell survival. To analyze the different components of the gp130 network, mouse mutants for the single cytokine were generated by conventional gene targeting. However, since the cytokines of the IL-6 family show redundancy, it does not reveal the complete picture. Therefore, the study of mice with a cell type specific inactivation of the gp130 receptor chain is an approach that will subsequently allow the dissection of the cellular cytokine network. Here, we summarize the experimental results of the conditional gp130 mutants published so far.